One of the greatest gifts we can give our youth is the opportunity for a quality education. In turn, the most effective way to achieve this goal of offering a good education is to have qualified and prepared teachers in the educational work force committed to their profession.
In California, however, there is a growing shortage of qualified teachers. This difference is often felt most in the most challenging districts, with high numbers of students coming from families living in poverty.
New teachers entering the work force also experience significant financial hardships as they are required to enroll in costly induction and professional development programs aimed at converting their preliminary credential to a permanent or ‘clear’ credential, which must be done within five years of earning their preliminary credential. All of this is required of new teachers while they are also still paying off student loans and serving at the lowest end of the salary scales.
AB 586, sponsored by the California Catholic Conference, will lessen the financial hardship of newly credentialed teachers as they participate in earn their clear or permanent credential. This will have the effect of improving teacher retention and professional development, and therefore can be a significant measure in boosting the overall success of California’s K-12 students.
AB 586 will do this by allowing newly credentialed, beginning teachers either an individual tax credit or a deduction for professional development expenses to fulfill the requirements for a California Clear Multiple, Single Subjects Credential or Special Education (Education Specialist Instruction) Credential. These teachers would be able to claim either up to a $500 credit or $2,500 deduction on their personal state income taxes to offset fees incurred toward the completion of an approved Induction Program.
Full story at California Catholic Conference.
I have a better idea: eliminate the credentialing requirement for teachers.
That would eliminate the cost of getting a credential, eliminate the waste of time in getting a credential, and expand the pool of potential applicants. Any teacher who has gone through the credentialing program will tell you that it’s a thorough waste of money and time.
I taught in private schools, for which no credential was required.
Principals should be free to hire any applicant they believe would be a competent teacher, based on education, work experience and talent. There are lots of educated and experienced older people who would consider teaching as a second career or for a change of pace were it not for the credentialing requirement.
Agree. The CA State University system hand out graduate degrees and credentials like Chiclets. Education has become a money making scam.
Any 501c that advocates for a monetary subsidy from the government to someone should be required to donate to that subsidy
Amen! How is this subject within the California bishops’ responsibility—or even right—to comment upon as teachers of the faithful? Is EVERY policy decision now fair game for their “comments”? When did they become experts in educational economics? If they keep running their mouths like this, soon no one will listen to ANYTHING they say.
This means that the non-teachers in California will have to pay more taxes to make up the difference! This is what happens when liberal loons control the state.
It seems that some of those “liberal loons” are Catholic bishops. Look no farther than San Diego.